While
at Râjagaha, the Blessed One heard that his father wished to see
him, and he set out for Kapilavatthu. He did not, however, go straight
to the palace, but, according to custom, stopped in a grove outside
the town. The next day the Buddha, with his bowl, went for his alms
from house to house in the streets of Kapilavatthu. King Suddhodana,
startled at the news, rushed to the Buddha and said; "Why, Master,
why do you put us to shame? Why do you go begging for your food? Not
one of our race has ever done so." Replied the Buddha: "You
and your family may claim descent from kings; my descent is from the
Buddhas of old; and they, begging their food, always lived on alms."
Then explaining the Dhamma the Master said, "Be alert, be mindful,
lead a righteous life. The righteous live happily both in this world
and the next." And so the king became established in the Path,
he realized the Dhamma.

The
Buddha was then conducted into the palace where all came to pay their
respects to him, but not Princess Yasodharâ. The Buddha went to
her, and the princess, knowing the impassable gulf between them, fell
on the ground at his feet and saluted him. Then relating the Candakinnara
Jâtaka, a story of his previous birth n44
revealing how great her virtue had been in that former life, he made
her an adherent to the Doctrine. Later when the Buddha was induced to
establish an Order for women, Yasodharâ became one of the first
nuns and attained arahatship, highest sanctity.

When
the Buddha was in the palace, Princess Yasodharâ arrayed her son
Râhula in all his best attire and sent him to the Blessed One,
saying, "That is your father, Râhula, go and ask for your
inheritance."

Prince
Râhula went to the Buddha, stood before him, and said, "Pleasant
indeed is your shadow, sage."

And
when the Blessed One had finished his meal and left the palace, Prince
Râhula followed him saying, "Give me my inheritance, sage;
give me my inheritance." At that the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable
Sâriputta: "Well then, Sâriputta, take him into the
Order."

Then
the Venerable Sâriputta gave Prince Râhula the ordination.n45
In the Majjhima Nikâya, one of the five original collections in
Pâli containing the Buddha’s discourses, there are three discourses
(Nos. 61, 62, 147) entitled Râhulovâda or exhortations to
Râhula, delivered by the Blessed One to teach the Dhamma to little
Râhula. The discourses are entirely devoted to advice on discipline
and meditation. Here is an extract from the Master’s exhortation in
the Mahâ Râhulovâda Sutta:n46

"Cultivate
the meditation on loving-kindness (mettâ), Râhula;
for by cultivating loving-kindness, ill will is banished. Cultivate
the meditation on compassion (karunâ), Râhula, for
by cultivating compassion, cruelty is banished. Cultivate the meditation
on appreciative joy (muditâ), Râhula, for by cultivating
appreciative joy, aversion is banished. Cultivate the meditation on
equanimity (upekkhâ), Râhula, for by cultivating
equanimity, hatred is banished. Cultivate the meditation on impurity
(asubha), Râhula, for by meditating on impurity, lust is
banished. Cultivate the meditation on the concept of impermanence (anicca-sañña),
Râhula, for by meditating on the concept of impermanence, pride
of self (asmi-mâna) is banished. Cultivate the meditation
on mindfulness of in-and-out-breathing (ânåpâna
sati), Râhula, for mindfulness of breathing, cultivated and
frequently practised, bears much fruit and is of great advantage."